Fisher rail joints and those cast rail braces

[David Fromm]

Group,

I’m looking for some guidance and help in providing information to Bill over at Leadville Designs regarding the Fisher rail joints and cast rail braces used in the early days of our favorite lines.  I’ve asked Bill if he could produce some of these in HO scale for code 40 rail (HOn3) and have this mini project be one of his co-op ventures.  So far we are just in the talking phase and Bill would like some more information on the cast braces and Fisher rail joints.  Any help from the group would be appreciated toward gathering more information for him. Dimensions would greatly help.
I have full-size copies of both items but they are presently in storage in Phoenix.  
Any thoughts on such a project and is anyone else interested in the production of these?

Thanks,
David Fromm
Seattle,WA

Pardon to those who may have produced the images below for my lack of attribution.

[South Park]

The rail and brace photo is mine.  If the real item were needed
to help make a project come together, just let me know.  I only
model in 12":1' scale, I have no interest in miniatures myself,
but happy to help if I can.

[Chris Walker]

David,

In H0n3 huh, I admire your dedication and tenacity.

I think I identified at least 5 variations of Railbraces of that period: a study of some of the historical images of DSP&P/CC trackwork presented on here will show most of the variations.

Here's two I found at Alpine on the recreated trackwork,

[Al Pomeroy]

David,

an interesting project that will not work well IMHO in Hon3. the rail braces are fitted just below the top bulb of the rail head, which works great in 1:1 scale, but on code 40 rail will be such a small detail that has the potential to not clear flanges. I moved away for H0n3 over 20 years ago because i could no longer see to drill out holes for grabs and such, and moved to 1:20.3. Even in this scale i could see making a representative section of track, but would not spend the time to do a whole L/O. ever making .020 brass photo etched  is half of the rail height, and flanges will bump going over them.

Get a great set of magnifying glasses you are going to need them.

Good Luck

[Chris Walker]

Al Pomeroy wrote

David,

an interesting project that will not work well IMHO in Hon3. the rail braces are fitted just below the top bulb of the rail head, which works great in 1:1 scale, but on code 40 rail will be such a small detail that has the potential to not clear flanges. .020 brass photo etched  is half of the rail height, and flanges will bump going over them.

Get a great set of magnifying glasses you are going to need them.

Good Luck

Just a little clarification there:

RailBraces were only fitted to the outside of the rail, thus clear of Flanges.  Unless Al may be also meaning, the Wheeltread bumping over them; then in that case, the Brace should not protrude above the Railhead.

UPD&G 1893  Clear Creek.








Having "been there, done that" myself back in the 80's(also on my Mate's layout); we used a ground off square Spike to represent the Railbrace given we Plio-bonded the Code40 Rails down.  Of course we(actually I) would have liked the added detail of etched or cast details but the overall effect was maintained with the trackspikes, and on a large layout, the detail was overall, not normally noticed running trains.

Speaking of the ultimate detail(judicious use required).  What appears to be a gouge from a Flange strike.



regards

UpsideDownC.

Chris
in New Zealand

[Todd A Ferguson]

I would love to see these parts in S and O scale.  I too would have to question whether these were worth the cost and effort in HO scale because if they were more than 12” away I’m afraid they might disappear.  But to each their own I guess.  I’m not even sure they are worth the effort in S scale as they will still be very small.

Central Valley offers their HO turnout detail sprue as a separate package of 3.  They have some switch point rail braces as part of that set.  Might be worth a look for HO and S.  I also think that San Juan has braces in their O scale turnout detail package.

Details West offers separate rail braces in several styles in HO also.